Melina looked at Arthur in confusion.
"So what exactly happened to me? And… what is that Erdtree over there?"
She clearly remembered being consumed by flame—
her body reduced to ashes, even her soul burning away.
Yet the moment she opened her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar place…
in the body of a child.
Arthur gave her a concise explanation.
He told her about the existence of the Zen Garden, about preserving her soul imprint before it was fully incinerated, and about reconstructing her body through transmutation.
Melina stood there in stunned silence.
A separate world.
Another Erdtree cultivated within it.
Resurrection from near-total annihilation.
She had not expected any of this.
Joy welled up inside her—
the joy of rebirth.
Alongside it came a quiet, overwhelming gratitude.
"Thank you," she said softly. "You gave me a second life. Reviving me must have cost you greatly."
Arthur opened his mouth to dismiss it—
Then paused.
Technically, the most precious resource he had used was a demigod-tier magic crystal derived from Morgott.
Which meant…
Yes.
That had been the last demigod-level crystal he possessed.
And now?
The Lands Between had no demigods left for him to harvest.
Arthur sighed internally.
Well. Once he cleared Elden Ring, the system would grant him a new game anyway.
Who knew—perhaps the next world would have beings equal to or surpassing demigods.
He waved the thought away.
"No need to talk about the cost," he said instead. "But since I brought you back, I get to make one request. Fair?"
Melina nodded without hesitation.
Her life belonged to him now. Even if he asked for it back, she would not resist.
Arthur looked at her seriously.
"The mission Marika gave you is complete. From now on… live according to your own will."
Melina blinked.
"That's… all?"
Arthur raised a brow. "What else were you expecting?"
She shook her head slowly.
"I don't know. I just feel… that request is too light."
Arthur reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
In this smaller form, she looked unexpectedly adorable. Even with her calm expression, the childlike proportions softened her entire presence.
"Fulfill that first," he said lightly. "We'll talk later."
Melina nodded.
For the first time in her existence, her path was not predetermined.
She would live—for herself.
And perhaps… alongside him.
Arthur took her hand.
"Come. I'll show you the Zen Garden. And introduce you to my family."
Reactions to Melina
Surprisingly—
No one reacted strongly.
Ranni already knew about Melina's existence.
Hermione had long since grown used to unusual individuals appearing around her cousin.
Fleur had experienced an entire procession of ghosts recently—one more mysterious girl barely registered.
As for the Grangers and Snape—
Arthur simply fabricated a complete background story.
In the end, he only needed one sentence:
"Melina is Ranni's distant cousin."
That was sufficient.
Snape, in fact, went a step further.
"Do you require enrollment arrangements for her at Hogwarts?"
Dumbledore had temporarily stepped down from Hogwarts to assume the position of acting Minister for Magic during the political transition.
That meant Snape was once again serving as acting Headmaster.
And if Dumbledore officially secured the Ministry position—
Snape would become permanent Headmaster.
With his current authority, arranging special admission was trivial.
Arthur nodded.
"Yes."
Melina could not remain inside the Zen Garden forever.
Exposure to the outside world might help soften her wooden personality.
Thus, Melina became a transfer student at Hogwarts.
At her own request—
She would enroll in the same year as Arthur.
Arthur had no objections.
With the Zen Garden, he had no concerns about academic pacing.
Besides—
School was not really about studying for her.
Snape did not question the logic of placing an apparent eleven-year-old into fifth year.
Experience had taught him not to evaluate Arthur's associates by normal standards.
Especially not someone related to Ranni.
He had no desire to test whether questioning Melina's age would result in unforeseen consequences—
Possibly involving Ranni.
And possibly involving his continued survival.
Thus—
Melina, reborn child of flame and shadow,
Began her second life—
As a Hogwarts student.
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